Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in. Older adults are particularly vulnerable because the sense of thirst may decrease with age. Illness, certain medications, vomiting, diarrhea, and not drinking enough fluids can also increase the risk (MedlinePlus, 2024).
Malnutrition occurs when the body does not receive enough calories or nutrients to maintain good health. Signs may include unintended weight loss, weakness, fatigue, frequent infections, and slow wound healing (MedlinePlus, 2025).
Residents of nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities may be especially vulnerable because they often depend on staff to provide food and fluids, assist with meals, and recognize changes in their health.
Healthcare facilities should identify residents who are at risk and provide appropriate assistance with eating and drinking. Prevention may include monitoring food and fluid intake, assisting residents during meals, monitoring weight, addressing problems with chewing or swallowing, and responding promptly to decreased appetite or fluid intake.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to provide residents with adequate nutrition and sufficient fluids to maintain proper hydration and health, based on each resident's individual needs and medical condition (CMS, 2024).
Adequate staffing is particularly important for residents who cannot independently eat, drink, or communicate their needs. When a facility is inadequately staffed, meals or fluids may be delayed, residents may not receive necessary assistance, and warning signs such as weight loss, weakness, or decreased fluid intake may go unnoticed.
Not every case of dehydration or malnutrition is caused by neglect. Certain illnesses and medical conditions can cause these problems even when appropriate care is provided. However, when a facility fails to provide adequate food, fluids, assistance, monitoring, or timely medical attention, preventable dehydration or malnutrition may develop or become significantly worse.
Severe dehydration can become life-threatening, while malnutrition can contribute to weakness, infections, poor wound healing, and other serious health problems (MedlinePlus, 2024; MedlinePlus, 2025). When these conditions result from failures in a resident's care, questions may arise as to whether appropriate standards of care were followed.
If you or someone close to you has been in a healthcare facility and suffered from dehydration or malnutrition that you believe could have been prevented or was not properly treated, call our injury team at the Law Offices of Judy Greenwood for a FREE CONSULTATION at 215-557-7500.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024). State Operations Manual: Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities.
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/provider-enrollment-and-certification/guidanceforlawsandregulations/downloads/appendix-pp-state-operations-manual.pdf
MedlinePlus. (2024). Dehydration. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
https://medlineplus.gov/dehydration.html
MedlinePlus. (2025). Malnutrition. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
https://medlineplus.gov/malnutrition.html
